Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: GaryR on March 09, 2012, 11:11:28 am
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The other day we saw 2 crows in the field behind our house. I immeadietly thought of fletching. I didn't go for the pellet gun because they were some distance away and for some reason my gun isn't consistant. Would crow be good fletching had I got one?
Gary
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I took a couple crows last summer with the same idea before I had made any arrows, they looked big enough but the wife made me toss them because she didnt like them in the car with us...
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Now that brought me some laughter, thanks buddy. I think they would be coarse enough, just hope they are big enough.
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Check your game laws where you are at. Most places have a season on crows.
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Check your game laws where you are at. Most places have a season on crows.
That's what I was hoping to see, It's true, there is a season on crows here in Inidiana. How about not worrying so much about killing something for the feathers and just try to find some?
Crow does make good eating though, so if you have to shoot one, make sure you make the most of it. ;) dpgratz
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Bowartist, I did take the kids to the duck pond last weekend and found a hand full of feathers. Most of these feathers are not primaries and therefore not big enough for fletching. I have found some feathers at our property in the country but I'm not sure if buzzard feathers are allowed to be picked up so I didn't. It is a shame to see good feathers laying on the ground and not be picked up. What a waste.
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Be VERY carefull about picking up feathers. This can get you into serious trouble. I agree, I hate to see good feathes just laying there but the issue is, how to you prove the fletching on your arrows was made by found feathers and not from something shot.
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Buzzard Feathers are NOT legal in Tejas... :(
I've eaten Crow on many occasions through the years...
Both, the kind that flies and the kind that don't.
:)
-gus
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Gary,
Check out the "owl feathers?" thread on this page. If you haven't looked @ it yet, it may give you an idea of what to do and vise versa.
dpgratz
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No raptor feathers which include eagle, hawk, falcon, owl, buzzard may be used or in possession unless you are a licenced falconer or a Native American with a valid CDIB card and a permit to have them or else you are taking a chance on getting a healthy fine and possible jail time.
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Buzzard Feathers are NOT legal in Tejas... :(
I've eaten Crow on many occasions through the years...
Both, the kind that flies and the kind that don't.
:)
-gus
I hate eating crow.. Never taste quite right >:D
Cipriano
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I have quite a few redtailed hawk feathers as well as great horned owl feathers, but I'm afraid if I try fletching with them I am going to get bit or footed badly.
I imagine my USF&W permits would be rapidly voided as well.
On a serious note, vulture primaries would be excellent fletching because of the extraordinary stiffness of the web or vane of the feathers. They are very strong feathers, but not so much better than turkey primaries that it would be worth the extra effort and overwhelming risk. With a good quality magnifying glass and a feather identification key a Conservation Officer or USF&W agent would know within a minute whether you had legal fletching or not. If there was a question, it would go in for DNA testing and they'd have an answer right quick.
With just one Federal charge on your record you'd be branded for life. You'd never make it thru a game check again without having your vehicle tossed like a crack house bust! Is it worth it, really? Not when there are sources where you can get 100 #2 turkey primarys for as little as $25. The cost/benefit ratio just ain't there.
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I assume no one has experience using crow feathers?
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i use crow feathers all the time they work as long as you leave them a little higher cut than turkey, but be warned that if their is a season only makew your kills during that season a polching ticket is not worth it for a crow feather at all.even the tail feathers make decent fletching so go ahead and use them.
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:)
http://bertc.com/subfive/recipes/threecrows.htm
-gus
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Gus where's the Mexican crow recipes? Andale amigo.
Cipriano
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Gus & jturkey, thank you. If the opportunity arises I'll use both.
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I checked and found no info on crow season in Texas at all. While working my garden today I heard one on a lamp post then spotted its buddy in the field. Now I have a bag of right, left, and tails to work with. Also took the breast like we do dove. I hid it in the freezer. Since I don't need any more feathers, I think I'll slip it in with some chicken so my wife doesn't know.
I was looking at the beak and wondering, would it make an arrow point? Would it deteriorate? Could it be an arrow rest?
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That's some funny stuff Gary... :)
Some of my family members still talk about the MASIVE grilled bacon wrapped jalapeno stuffed white wing dove I served them last year.
And I have to admit Pigeon never tasted Sooo Good... :)
The Beak should hold up well if you seal it well.
I like the arrow rest idea.
-gus
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What do you think about this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhmZBMuZ6vE&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
Wear a mask and wig if crow hunting. Apparently, they can tell generations down the line where grandpa Joe crow died and what the guy looks like that did it!
They may be the next most intelligent species next to humans.
Anyhow...
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Lucky for me the crows never knew I was there, or at least the one didn't, and the other had probably been watching me for a while with little to no concern. If crows begin attacking when I go out. I'll simply turn my hat sideways and pull my pants down to my knees next time. That way the crows attack the teenagers who keep my kids up at night.
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Thanks for the post Parnnell. NEAT!! I love a crow. dpgratz
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Crows are crazy smart. we live near a powerline cut our locasl group utilizes often in the mornings. Wife or kids go outside, our resident group is vigilant but silent. I step outside, they freak out. They always see me slink down the powerline to my hunting spots in the Nat. forest, and just know I'm sketchy... >:D
great video, Parnell, thanks! - gonna use that in my AP Bio class, doing animal behavior in a few weeks.
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Crows are very clever. Aesop knew that thousands of years ago. I had me some crow today. It didn't taste quite right so I added salsa and that did it.
Cipriano
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Was it Mexican salsa?? ;)
George
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Ha. No George that would be sacrilege ;) I eat Dutch salsa.
Cipriano
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I don't normally kill crows.
Besides if I were to start whacking crows, they might decide not to carry my messages any more... :)
Dutch Salsa?
Man I never got into the Salsa on my trips to Amsterdam back in the "80's"...
-gus
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I just remember how as a kid on the farm, I could just walk up on crows. If I had a long gun, on the other hand, they would spot me fron 200 yards and fly off, making a ruckus.
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Ya'll must have differnt type if crow then we do out here.... I learned the hard way about only shooting what you are going to eat as a kid. The fare was crow and it was terrible!
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Dutch Salsa?
Man I never got into the Salsa on my trips to Amsterdam back in the "80's"...
-gus
Yep Gus. Bought in a little Irish town named Dublin 8)
Cipriano
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Yep Gus. Bought in a little Irish town named Dublin 8)
Cipriano
Hey Cipriano, you sure that wasn't Guinness? :)
-gus
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Crow feathers work good for two-feather Eastern Woodland style fletchings, or three-feather radial (three feathers tied on flat)Southeastern fletchings, especially the latter one.
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I intend to try some crow feathers in the near future.... I first read this thread and walked around my place a little while with the ole shotgun, thinking that I would have no trouble taking one.... I see them all the time, so it should be no big deal - right? WRONG. Shooting crows is a real hunt. They are pretty shrewd and work in teams. They post lookouts and communicate with each other constantly. They have "scouts" that fly over and check your call out from high altitude before allowing the whole flock to come. I had a ball gathering crow feathers! They don't live to a ripe old age by being stupid. Thanks for the advice Hillbilly, I will give a two fletch arrow a try.
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They definitely know what a shotgun is for :)